April 13, 2003
The following is jointly issued by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority:
As at 1 pm today (April 13), an additional 42 patients with symptoms of atypical pneumonia were admitted to public hospitals. They include 9 healthcare workers (four from Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, two from Princess Margaret Hospital, two from Prince of Wales Hospital and one from Queen Elizabeth Hospital) and five patients from Amoy Gardens. The remaining 28 were new patients and contacts of patients with atypical pneumonia.
A total of 223 patients have recovered from atypical pneumonia and have been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, eight were discharged today.
Most of the patients currently in hospital are showing positive responses to the new treatment protocol. One hundred and twenty-two patients are receiving treatment in intensive care unit.
Five patients died in hospitals last night and this morning, bring to 40 the total number of deaths relating to atypical pneumonia. A 40-year-old male died in United Christian Hospital. Two men, aged 41 and 52, a 45-year-old female and a 66-year-old female with a history of chronic disease died in Princess Margaret Hospital.
The cumulative figure for patients who have been admitted to public hospitals with atypical pneumonia since March 12 is as follows:
| Nature |
Cumulative Number
(The numbers in bracket are those with pneumonia symptoms) |
Total No. of Discharged Patients |
Total No. of
Deaths * |
| Health care workers of Hospitals/Clinics and medical students | 276 (276) | 91 | 40 |
| Patients, family members & visitors | 874 (874) | 132 | |
| Total | 1150 (1150) | 223 |
| * |
Most of the deaths occurred in individuals who have a history of chronic diseases, or were patients who sought treatment at a relatively late stage of infection. |